Propranolol - un bêta-bloquant

About propranolol

What is propranolol used for?

Propranolol belongs to the group of medicines known as beta-blockers. Propranolol which is used to treat several different medical conditions such as anxiety and high blood pressure. It works on the heart and blood vessels.

Propranolol slows down the activity of your heart by stopping messages sent by some nerves to your heart. It does this by blocking tiny areas (called beta-adrenergic receptors) where the messages are received by your heart. As a result, your heart beats more slowly and with less force. This allows the pressure of blood within your blood vessels to be reduced if you have high blood pressure (hypertension), and helps to prevent abnormally fast heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Because your heart is using less energy, this helps to reduce chest pain if you have angina. Propranolol can also help to protect the heart following a heart attack.

Propranolol is also prescribed to help ease the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a fast heartbeat and trembling. Similar symptoms to these are also experienced by people with an overactive thyroid gland. Propranolol quickly relieves these types of symptoms. It is also the beta-blocker which is commonly prescribed to help prevent migraines. Propranolol can be helpful for people who find other treatments for migraine unsuitable.

Who cannot take propranolol?

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking propranolol it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Si vous êtes enceinte, si vous essayez d'avoir un enfant ou si vous allaitez.

• Si vous avez des problèmes de fonctionnement du foie ou des reins.

• Si vous souffrez d'hypotension ou d'une mauvaise circulation sanguine.

• Si vous souffrez d'asthme ou de tout autre trouble respiratoire.

• Si vous avez des niveaux élevés de sucre dans le sang (diabète sucré).

• Si vous souffrez d'un problème de peau appelé psoriasis.

• Si vous souffrez d'une maladie entraînant une faiblesse musculaire, appelée myasthénie grave.

• Si l'on vous a dit que vous aviez un rythme cardiaque lent ou un bloc cardiaque (un rythme cardiaque lent et irrégulier).

• Si l'on vous a dit que vous souffriez d'une douleur thoracique appelée angine de Prinzmetal (causée par des spasmes des vaisseaux sanguins du cœur).

• Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médicaments complémentaires.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament, ou si vous avez déjà eu une autre réaction allergique grave.

How to take propranolol

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about propranolol and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Your doctor will tell you what dose of propranolol is right for you, and this information will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you. Take propranolol exactly as your doctor tells you to. Propranolol tablets are usually prescribed to be taken in divided doses - so you may be prescribed two, three or four doses to take each day. Propranolol capsules have a more prolonged action and are prescribed to be taken once daily. Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water - do not chew or open the capsules.

• Propranolol tablets and capsules are available in several different strengths. Each time you collect a fresh supply, it's a good idea to check the strength on the packet to make sure they are the strength you are expecting.

• Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them regularly.

• If you do forget to take a dose of propranolol, take it as soon as you remember unless your next dose is due. If your next dose is due then take the tablet/capsule which is due but leave out the forgotten one. Do not take two doses together to make up for missing one.

Propranolol side effects

Along with their useful effects, propranolol can cause unwanted side effects although not everyone experiences them. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

The most common side effects of propranolol are:

• Sensation de fatigue.

• Mains et pieds froids.

• Sensation d'essoufflement.

• Disturbed sleep (insomnia).

• Slow heartbeat.

Less common side effects of propranolol are:

• Erectyle dysfunction (impotence).

• Reduce libido (sexual desire).

• Changements d'humeur.

• Maux de tête.

• Maux d'estomac.

Les effets indésirables s'atténuent souvent au fur et à mesure que votre corps s'adapte au nouveau médicament, mais parlez-en à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien si l'un des effets suivants persiste ou devient gênant.

How to manage propranolol side effects

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes qui pourraient être dus au médicament, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien.

Getting the most from your propranolol treatment

• Essayez de vous rendre à vos rendez-vous réguliers avec votre médecin. Il pourra ainsi vérifier vos progrès.

• Treatment with propranolol can often be long-term. Continue to take the tablets/capsules unless your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems in some people, so your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

• Si vous devez subir une opération ou un traitement dentaire, il est important d'informer la personne chargée du traitement que vous prenez un bêta-bloquant. En effet, certains anesthésiques peuvent augmenter le risque d'effets indésirables.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about taking propranolol and alcohol. Alcohol will add to the blood pressure-lowering effect of propranolol and so may not be recommended for you.

• If you have diabetes, propranolol can block the symptoms of low blood sugar. Your doctor will advise you about this.

• Si vous achetez des médicaments, vérifiez auprès d'un pharmacien qu'ils vous conviennent. Certains médicaments (y compris certains remèdes contre la toux, le rhume et la grippe) peuvent être contre-indiqués.

• Votre médecin peut vous donner des conseils en matière de régime alimentaire et de mode de vie : manger sainement, ne pas fumer et faire de l'exercice régulièrement. Dans ce cas, il est important que vous suiviez ces conseils.

How to store propranolol

• Conservez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments